Procedure: A male victim was staged to collapse on a New York City subway train.
Social Approach
Psychology Notes
A Level/AS Level/O Level
Social Approach
The Bystander Effect: Why We Don't Always Help
Imagine you're on a crowded subway train and someone suddenly collapses. Would you rush to help? You might think, "Of course!" But the truth is, many people wouldn't. This is the fascinating, and sometimes troubling, phenomenon known as the Bystander Effect.
We'll explore why this happens, what factors influence helping behaviour, and how we can overcome this tendency.
1. What is the Bystander Effect?
The Bystander Effect describes the phenomenon where individuals are less likely to help someone in need when there are other people around, compared to when they are alone. It's like a diffusion of responsibility - the presence of others makes us feel less personally accountable.
2. The Classic Experiment: The Subway Collapse
The iconic study by John Darley and Bibb Latané in 1968 perfectly illustrates this effect. A male victim was staged to collapse on a New York City subway train.
- Scenario 1: When the victim was alone with a single bystander, the bystander helped 85% of the time.
- Scenario 2: When the victim was surrounded by a group of 5 other bystanders, the help rate dropped to 31%.
This stark difference shows how the presence of others dramatically reduces the likelihood of helping.
3. Why Does This Happen?
Several factors contribute to the Bystander Effect:
- Diffusion of Responsibility: When multiple people are present, we all feel less responsible for taking action. We assume someone else will help, or that it's not our responsibility.
- Pluralistic Ignorance: When everyone in a group acts like nothing is wrong, even if they are privately concerned, it reinforces the idea that nothing is actually wrong. Everyone is looking to others for cues, and if no one is reacting, it seems like it's not a serious situation.
- Evaluation Apprehension: We might be afraid of looking foolish or being judged for our actions, especially in public.
4. Real-World Examples
The Bystander Effect has been observed in various situations:
- Street Crimes: A person being mugged or assaulted is less likely to receive help in a crowded street than in a secluded area.
- Car Accidents: People are less likely to stop and help in a car accident if there are other potential helpers around.
- Cyberbullying: Online, the anonymity of the internet can contribute to the Bystander Effect. People might be less likely to intervene in online harassment because they see themselves as less responsible for what happens.
5. Overcoming the Bystander Effect
Despite the Bystander Effect being a powerful influence, we can learn to overcome it:
- Be Aware of It: Understanding the Bystander Effect is the first step. Knowing this phenomenon exists, you can be more likely to recognize it and act accordingly.
- Take Responsibility: Don't assume someone else will help. Take charge and act, even if it's just asking for help from others.
- Think about the Situation: Don't let fear or doubt paralyze you. If someone is truly in need, your help could mean the world to them.
- Act Deliberately: By intervening, you can break the cycle of inaction and inspire others to do the same.
6. The Power of One
Remember, even a single person can make a difference. It takes courage and a willingness to act, but your intervention could change the course of an emergency.
Bonus Notes
Subway Experiment Essay Answers:
1. Social Norms and Expectations:
⭐Norm of Reciprocity: Participants felt obligated to help the confederate because he had previously helped them (picking up the dropped items). This norm influenced their decision to intervene.
⭐Norm of Social Responsibility: Bystanders felt a sense of responsibility to help someone in need, especially when the situation was clearly an emergency.
⭐Conformity: The actions of other bystanders influenced individual behavior. If others appeared unconcerned, it made it more likely that individual bystanders would also remain passive.
2. Ethical Implications of Deception:
⭐Informed Consent: Participants were not aware of the true nature of the experiment, violating their right to informed consent.
⭐Psychological Distress: The experiment could have caused distress to participants who witnessed the victim being attacked, especially if they were unable to help.
⭐Potential for Harm: The experiment created a potentially dangerous situation, as bystanders might have been put at risk by intervening.
3. Methodological Strengths and Limitations:
⭐Strengths:
⭐High ecological validity: The experiment was conducted in a natural setting, increasing the relevance of the findings to real-life situations.
⭐Controlled environment: The experiment allowed for manipulation of key variables (number of bystanders, presence of a helper), providing valuable data about the factors influencing helping behavior.
⭐Limitations:
⭐Lack of generalizability: The sample size was limited, and the participants were mostly male college students, potentially limiting the generalizability of the findings to other populations.
⭐Ethical concerns: As mentioned above, the use of deception raises ethical concerns.
4. Relation to Other Research:
⭐Prosocial Behavior: The experiment supports the concept of diffusion of responsibility, where the presence of multiple bystanders reduces individual feelings of responsibility to act.
⭐Bystander Effect: The experiment exemplifies the bystander effect, where the likelihood of helping decreases as the number of bystanders increases.
5. Designing Interventions:
⭐Educate about the Bystander Effect: Raise awareness about the diffusion of responsibility and how it influences helping behavior.
⭐Promote Active Bystander Training: Provide training programs that equip individuals with the knowledge and skills to effectively intervene in emergencies, even when others are present.
⭐Create Clear Expectations: Clearly define the roles and responsibilities of bystanders in emergency situations, minimizing ambiguity and encouraging proactive help.
⭐Foster a Culture of Helping: Promote prosocial values within communities, encouraging individuals to feel a sense of responsibility for the well-being of others.